How to grow Moroccan mint in pots

If you are thinking of planting and growing an aromatic plant, then the Moroccan mint must not be missing. Its leaves, if rubbed, are extremely fragrant and their aroma is strong, fresh and pleasant. So it’s a real gardening must have.

Moroccan mint is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Labiate family. This is durable over the years, easily cultivable, resistant to thermal agents and temperature changes.

In order to successfully grow Moroccan mint, just follow a few small rules and you will find that it is not difficult to take care of them. Here, then, are all the secrets for successful cultivation of Moroccan mint.

Moroccan mint: where to grow it

Moroccan mint, of European origin, is an evergreen shrub just like thyme, rosemary, sage and other aromatic plants. The cultivation soil can also be of a poor nature, since you must know that plants of this type do not need excessive nutrients.

Mint, in order to grow at its best, needs shaded areas. It is suitable in a professional garden or in domestic environments such as balconies and window sills. For this reason, pot cultivation is said to be not harmful. It is essential, however, that each pot used has at the bottom where you can let the watering water out.

In order for the plant to grow in a luxuriant and healthy way, it is necessary that there is a good part of garden soil, a percentage ranging from 10% to 20% of sand and one of fertilizer that can go up to 40%. The underlying layer of the soil also needs shards or gravel, useful for promoting the outflow of water and preventing stagnation.

Now that you know all the essential characteristics of this plant, surely, you will want to find out what are the treatments to which it is subjected, the times of ripening, harvesting and what dangers it can face. So let’s go on to explain how to grow Moroccan mint

Cultivation techniques

Once put in a pot, Moroccan mint needs all the nutrients necessary to grow. This Mediterranean species, you must know, does not need a lot of water, however, it is good to water it regularly without exaggerating.

To water the mint, lukewarm tap water or rainwater is fine. The most suitable moments to carry out this operation are early morning or late afternoon. In the evening, however, not having the sunlight from it, it could prove harmful to the plant. Watering mint at this time does not mean promoting complete absorption of the liquid, therefore, it would encounter the probable formation of particularly aggressive fungal infections. Finally, remember to always and only wet the earth and never the leaves.

To properly manage aromatic plants it is essential to keep the topping under control. This must be pruned in the spring, so that it can sprout again. Be careful, however, to the cut. In fact, you should never get to the woody part but always stop at the buds. To do this you need a sharp knife or, more simply, a shears.

The moment of the harvest can never be left to chance. In order to obtain a fragrant leaf it is important that mint has a maximum concentration of active ingredients, therefore, it is recommended to cut the leaves after a day or two without rain.

The harvest cannot be made by hand but a sharp blade or shears must be used. If the cut is regular, the branching of the plant is guaranteed.

Moroccan mint: the dangers

In order to take care of your Moroccan mint you must always pay attention to the pathologies that could develop.

You must know that mint is prone to attack by fungal diseases that can affect the root or leaves. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, for example, develops with a large concentration of air humidity, little light or a wrong fertilization and loaded with nitrogen. If one of the mint plants is affected by this mushroom it is necessary to remove it.

Attention also powdery mildew that develops when there is a hot humid climate and, finally, even the pseudo downy mildew is dangerous for its